Frank d



Dec. 9

Y F. D. GOULD AUTO TOP Filed Dec. 18. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flax/i: D. Gould BY Z ATTORNEY F. D. GOULD AUTO TOP 2 Sheata-She at 2 Filed Dec. 18. 1919 IN VENTOR A'L'IORNIY joints and avoid rattle.

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. GOULD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO IE. I). GOULD COM- PANY, 018 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A. CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

AUTO TOP.

Application filed December 18, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D. GOULD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Auto Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates .to an auto top and especially to slidable and concealable side windows therefor.

The purpose of the invention is to provide means for converting an auto of the open-top variety into a closed car having the general appearance of a sedan and yet at the same time enable the converted car to be opened practically to the full extent of an ordinary open-top car.

In carrying out this object, it is desired to employ a sliding sash with glazed windows giving finish and stability to the construc tion and without creating too heavy an overhead structure. The great difficulty heretofore in the use of a sliding sash in auto top constructions has been to produce tight While various efforts have been made to produce a top with a glazed sliding sash, these efforts, as far as I am advised, have been uniformly unsuccessful, by reason that the structures were neither ratt1e-proof nor weather-tight.

In addition to the foregoing it is desired to produce a top with a glazed sliding sash, which latter may be easily manipulated, coupled with features of construction enabling such a top to be manufactured economically, and which construction will notadd materially to the weight of the car.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinaftermore fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of an automobile showing the application of the invention.

l Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view of one of the window supporting tracks.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on line 33 Fig. 1.

V Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section on line r-4 Fig. 1.

Serial No. 345,785.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the hangers by which the sliding windows are supported.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the window guide.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in detail, A indicates the body of an automobile, 2 the usual hinged doors, 3 the hood or forward portion of the car, 4 the wind shield, and 5 the top.

The top here shown consists of a permanent rigid frame secured to the body and to the wind shield. The shape of the top and the detailed construction of the same forms no part of the present invention as this may be varied.

Formed as a portion of the top is a back I section 6 and a pair of side posts 7, and secured between the back 6 and the posts 7 is a pair of stationary windows 8, one being arranged on each side. Formed in the frame work interior of each window 8 is a space which is provided for the reception of a pair of sliding windows such as shown at 9 and 10. As here shown there are a pair of windows arranged on each side of the car and each pair is supported and movable on separate tracks arranged in each side of the top as indicated at 18 and 19.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown a top constructed of a set of main bows 11 and a set of interior filler bows 12, which are covered by the exterior and interior fabric covering shown at 13 and 14 respectively. The bows 11 and 12 are spaced apart by means of a top plate 15 and a pair of horizontally disposed frame bars 16 and 17. The upper edges of these bars are recessed to receive the track members 18 and 19. These tracks are channel shaped in cross section and are provided for the purpose of supporting the windows 9 and 10, and also to permit said windows to be moved forward when it is desired to inclose the car. The windows 8 arranged at the rear end of the car and secured between the back and the posts 7 are stationary and will assume the exterior position of the windows when these are moved into register. The sliding window 9 is positioned next to the exterior window, while the shdlng window 10 Wlll assume the innermost position when both windows 9 and 10 are completely retracted. The outer channel shaped rail 19, therefore, serves as a su port for the window 9, and the inner rail 18 a support for the innermost window 10.

The window 9 is only designed to move to the position shown in Fig. 1, that is, to point in alignment with the back of the front seat, while the window 10 is designed to move up to the wind shield to close the space provided for the driver. It is therefore possible to inclose the entire car during stormy or rainy weather, or to leave it partially or wholly open. lVith both windows extended, the car is given the appearance of a sedan while with only the windows 9 extended, the appearance of an open sedan is secured. Again with both windows retracted, the appearance of a touring car is obtained and free circulation of air is permitted.

The tracks 18 and 19 are inter-spaced with relation to each other and are parallel throughout. They are both disposed interior of the stationary window 8 and it is, therefore, possible to move the windows 9 and 10 back into register with the window 8 as previously described. The track supporting the window 9 need not extend further than the extreme forward movement of said window, that is to a point approximately in alignment with the back of the front seat, but as the window 10 is moved clear up to the wind shield, it is obvious that the track 18 supporting the same must extend from the rear end of the car clear up to the wind shield as shown. The frame bars 16 and 17, as previously described, are spaced apart by means of a plate 15, the distance between the bars 16 and 17 being sufficient to permit a free movement of the windows, and also to permit the windows to stand one within the other when moved into register with the cooperating stationary window 8. Ordinary hangers may be employed in conjunction with each supporting track, but I prefer a friction type of hanger such as'shown in Fig. 5, that is a shoe 20, inclined at both ends and provided with a rigid hanger 21 to which the window may be secured. There are two hangers employed for each window and the shoe formed on each front hanger is in each instance longer than the rear shoe,

as will hereinafter be described.

To permit the formation of a rattle and a weather-proof joint beween the body and the lower edges of the windows 9 and 10, when these are moved forward or extended, and also to prevent scratching of the body when the'windows are extended, I prefer to arrange the tracks in such a manner that the windowsare held in an elevated position with relation to the body while being extendedand to lower the windows into contact with the body only when the windows reach their extended position. This is accomplished by forming depressions in the respective rails as shown at 22 and 22, that is, a window when moving along the track will travel along the surfaces indicated at 23 until a pair of inclined recesses 22 and 22 reached. The windows while travelling along the tracks surfaces 23 will be held in an elevated position with relation to the body, but when the recesses are reached, it is obvious that the shoes 20 secured at each end of the window will dip downwardly and slide into the recesses, thus lowering each window to such an extent when the extended position has been reached as to bring the lower edge of each window into positive contact with the edge of the body as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A window when moved forward is thus held entiiely out of engagement with the body until its extended position is just about reached, and it 13 only lowered down into engagement with the body at the very last stage of its travel. Scratching of the body is thereby prevented and unnecessary frictional resistance is obviated when extending or returning the windows. Again, by padding the upper edge of the body as shown at 26, and by forming a weather strip 26, arattle and weatherproof jointis formed between the lower edge of each window and the body, thus excluding rain, wind and dust when the windows are extended and lowered into position.

I previously stated in the description that the recesses 22 are longer than the recesses 22 arranged rearwardly thereof, similarly that the forward shoes 20 are longer than the rearmost shoes 20, by which each window is supported. This is of importance as the forward shoes 20 will bridge and pass over the track depressions 22 when the windows are being extended. Hence the reason for lengthening the forward shoes 20, that is, each window is provided with two shoes which both assume a position rearwardly of the recesses 22 when the window is moved back into register with the stationary. window 8. Therefore, by making the forward shoes longer than the rear shoes, it is obvious that these will slide over or bridge the rear recesses 22, while the window is being extended and that they will enter the forward recesses 22 as these are made sufliciently long to receive the forward shoes, while the recesses 22 are just suited for the smaller rear shoes. Inasmuch as the slots or notches or track depressions 22 are inclined, it is obviously dcsirable to make the shoe 20, (Fig. 5) diamond-shaped so as to correspondingly fit the notch that it is intended to and at the same time for the shoe to be long enough to bridge the rear notches over which it may have to slide.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 6, it will be seen that I have provided a central spacing or guide member 30. This member consists of a plate and three upwardly projecting guide ribs 31, 32 and 33. The win 'dow 9 when extended passes over the guide member 30 and its front end is held be tween the ribs 31 and 32 when in its extended position. The window 10, when exl'tended, will also pass over the guide 30 and its rear end Will rest between the ribs 32 and 33 when. its extended position is reached. The guide member 30, therefore, serves two functions: First, that of slightly spacing the windows with relation to each other, and secondly, that of securing the lower edges of the windows against lateral movement when extended. It further serves the function of holding the windows in positive contact with their respective weather strips 26.

Experience shows that in traversing rough roads and particularly when travelling down comparatively steep grades, the windows 9 and 10 have a tendency to slide forward when in a retracted position, due to the vibration imparted and the inclined position of the car. To prevent this feature and to positively lock the sliding windows in their retracted position, I provide a pair ofspring latches 35. These latches are located at the rear ends of the tracks and directly in the path of travel of the respective windows. The rear end of each window is provided with a recess such as shown at 36 and as they are slid back into alignment with the spring latches, these enter the recesses and thereby automatically lock the windows against extension. The spring latches are of further importance as they are maintained under sufficient tension to rigidly hold the respective windows on their tracks and thereby eliminate excessive vibration and rattle.

To form a perfect joint between the fore most windows 10 and the wind shield 1-, I provide a pair of triangular shaped frames 27. These frames are suitably secured with relation to the top, the wind shield and the body, and may be painted or polished to convey the appearance that they form a part of the wind shield or side extensions of the same. The inner edge of the frame 27 is channel shaped asat 28. (See Fig. 4:.) This is of importance as it permits. the sash rail'of the foremost window to enter said channel and form a perfect joint between the frame 27 and the window. The

channel may furthermore be felt or rubber wish it understood that these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims, similarly that the materials and finish of the several parts employed and the shape and proportions provided may be such as the experienceaud judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

lly referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that I have provided a projecting pin 50. This pin is secured in the hanger 21 and extends inwardly therefrom,that is, in a direction towards the shoe 20. The pin is however positioned lower than the shoe and it therefore passes under the channel shaped track in which the shoe slides. These pins are secured to the rear hangers only and they are of considerable importance to the extent that they positively guide said shoes down to their pockets when the extended position is reached. Pins such as shown at 50 are not required on the front shoes as positive guiding of the rear shoes into their pockets will insure a perfect operation of the front shoes.

From the foregoing it is observed:

(1) That the sliding windows are sus pended from a track built in the roof of the car.

(2) That suitable means are provided in conjunction with the track, whereby the windows, freely suspended, move out of contact with the top of the car body until the limit of movement to closed position is approximately reached.

In the present instance the suspending hangers for the doors, cooperating with the deflection in the track at or adjacent to the limit of movement of the window, brings about a clamping and locking action forming a weather-tight and rattle-proof joint between the sliding window and the respective hinged doors. While this Cl6fi60- tion of the track is here shown in the form of an inclined notch, it is manifest that such deflection could be brought about by'other and equivalent means; the main thing being to provide means for suspending the window or windows whereby they may be moved back and forth from opened to closed position, and vice versa, entirely out of con tact with the hinged doors and top edge of the body and yet when the windows are in extended closed position they may be brought into some sort of forceful and clamping contact with the top edges of the doors to make a weather-tight and rattleproof joint.

(3) In the case of a suspended window, depending entirely on overhead support, there must be some means provided at the forward limit of movement to guide and hold them in posit-ion. It is not desired to mar or disfigure the top edges of the doors or the top edges of the body and hence resort is had to the use of'the small sash as if guard" 30* (Fig; 6) fixed at a point on the bodybetween' the front and rear hinged doors and so positioned that this sash guard forms a short bit of track section just sufficient to engage the rear portion of the front window and the front end of the rear win dow.

1 vided bythe' sash guard 30 and the ribs or ready become apparent.

beads 26 is dependent primarily on the forceful contact of the sliding sash with its door seat here provided by dropping the sash on its seat and employing a pin acting on the underside of the track incline to forcethesash and. to'hold it down in contact with the top edge of the hinged door. Manifestly, the same effect may be produced by other and equivalent means;

(6) There isa joint to be formed between the sliding sash and' the windshield wing or triangular extension 27, which joint is here shown as produced by a tongue and groove connection.

(7)v The relationship existing between the sliding sashes and the hinged doors has al- 7 Contact between these two different types of closures (i. e. the sliding sash and its hinged door) is only had at the moment of closure of both, yet a very slight movement of the slidin sashpermits its hinged door to be opened. a

It is also to be noted that each sliding sash and its door are capable of operation for ingress and egress without respect to the companion sliding sash or other door on that side of the car. In other words, with the car closed, ingress and egress may be had" to the tonneau without disturbing the front sliding sashand front door and, conversely, the front door and its sliding sash may be opened without disturbing the rear members.

Inasmuch as a top of this character has to be especially built, obviously the invention is not limitedto the mere conversion of a touring car into' a car of the sedan or closed type but includes the building originally of a closed .car of applicants I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is--- 1.- In a device of the character described, a track member having a long and a short recess formed therein, a window supported by said track member, a front and rear shoe engaging; the track from which the window is suspended, and means for preventing the front shoe from entering the short recess.

2. In a device of the character described, a track member having a long and a short recess formed therein, a window supported by said track member, a front and rear shoe engaging the track from which the window is suspended, said front shoe being longer than the short recess in the track to prevent it from entering the same.

3. The combination with an auto top and a pair of stationary windows arranged at the rear end of the same, one on each side of the top, of a pair of sliding windows in each side of the top adapted to be moved into register with the stationary windows, a track member supporting each sliding window, said track members permitting forward movement of each sliding window and said track members being elevated to hold the lower edges of the windows elevated with relation to the body of the car, hangers on each window by Which the windows are supported with relation to the tracks, depressions formed in the tracks into which the hangers are adapted to enter when the windows reach their extended position to permit the same to be lowered into engagement with the body of the car when in their extended position, and means for locking the lower edgesof the windows against lateral movement with relation to the body, said means comprising a centrally disposed plate and upwardly extending guide ribs on said plate between which the windows pass.

4:. The combination with the body of an automobile of a rigid frame secured thereto, a covering for said frame forming a permanent top for the automobile, a pair of side windows at the rear end of the frame, one on each side thereof. a pair of windows adapted to be moved into register with each side window, concealed track members on each side of the frame, hangers attached to the windows slidablv mounted on the track members. recesses formed in the track members to permit vertical movement of the windows with relation to the body of the auto, and a packing member interposed between the body and windows adapted to form arattle and weather-proof joint between each movable window and the body.

5. In combination with an automobile body and a side window at the rear there of, a pair of slidable windows, packing between the bottom edges of the slidable windows and the top portions of the body over which latter the windows are disposed when in closed position, and means to mount the windows so that when same are slid the packing will be. relieved of the weight of the windows and when the latter are in closed position the weight of the windows will be imposed on the packing so as to make a tight joint between the windows and the automobile bodv.

6. In combination with an automobile body, a side window at the rear thereof, a pair of slidable windows. means permitting the formation of a weather and rattleproof joint between the slidable windows and the body, and means to mount the s1idable windows whereby when same are in closed position the weight of the windows will be imposed on said means to make a tight joint between the windows and the automobile body and when the windows are slid same will be raised up from the body.

7. The combination with an auto top, of a sliding window arranged in each side thereof, means pe'mitting a limited forward n'iovement of each window, a track member supporting each window, a hanger by which each window is hung from its cooperating track, recesses formed in the tracks at a point where the windows reach their extended position, said hangers adapted to enter the recesses and thereby to lower each window with relation to the top when the extended position is reached, and a depression. formed in the upper edge of each window and spring latches engageable therewith when the windows are retracted.

8. In a device of the character described a track member having a long and a short recess formed therein, a window supported by said track member, a front and rear hanger secured to the window engaging the track, means preventing the front hanger from entering the short recess, and means on the rear hanger for positively guiding it into its recess. a

9. In a device ofv the character described, a track member having a long and a short recess formed therein, a window supported by said track member, a front and rear hanger secured to the window engaging the track, means preventing the front hanger from entering the short recess, and means on the rear hanger for positively guiding it mto its recess, said means comprising a pin on the hanger engageable with the lower side of thetrack and guided thereby.

10. The combination with the body of an automobile, of a rigid frame secured thereto, a covering for said frame forming a permanent top for the automobile, a pair of sidewindows at the rear end of the frame, one on each side thereof, a pair of windows adapted to be disposed beside the side windows, track members on each side of the rigid frame to support the windows and to permit the windows to be extended or retracted, yieldable means between the pair of windows and the body, and means permit-' ting horizontal and vertical movement of the windows with relation to the track members so as to exert pressure on the yieldable means.

11. The combination with the body of an automobile of a rigid frame secured thereto, a covering for said frame forming a. permanent top for the automobile, a pair of side windows at the rear end of the frame, one on each side thereof, a pair of windows adapted to be disposed beside the side windows, concealed track members on each side of the frame, hangers attached to the windows slidably mounted on the track members, packing between the bottom of the pairs of windows and the auto body, and recesses formed in the track members to per mit vertical movement of the windows with relation to the body of the auto, so as to impose the weight of the pairs of windows 011 the packing when the windows are in closed position, to thereby exert pressure on the packing.

12. The combination with the body of an automobile of a rigid. frame secured thereto, a covering for said frame forming a permanent top for the automobile, a pair of side windows at the rear end of the frame, one on each side thereof, a pair of windows adapted to be disposed beside the side windows, concealed track members on each side of the frame, hangers attached to the windows slidably mounted on the track members, a side frame secured to each end of the wind shield on the auto, and means permitting the formation of a weather and rattle-proof joint between said side frames and the slidable windows, and. means to mount the slidable windows so that when same are in closed position the weight thereof will be imposed 011 the last named means and when the windows are slid same will relieve the last named means of their weight.

13. The combination of an automobile body having hinged side doors, a top for the body and provided with sliding sashes, one sliding sash for each corresponding hinged door, means for hanging the sliding sashes whereby the sashes are out of contact with the hinged doors until the limit of movement of the sashes is approximately reached, with means forming a yielding packing between the contiguous edges of the sash and its hinged door to provide a weather and rattleproof joint.

let. The combination of an auto body having a horizontally swinging hinged door, a top, a sliding sash movable independently to coact with. the door to enclose one side of the automobile, a horizontal overhead track concealed in the top on which the sash is adapted to run, and means for positively moving the sash whereby the sash and the top edge of of the door are brought intov tight jointure and in a direction transverse to the direction of the travel of the sash along the track substantially at the moment the sash reaches its limit of movement.

15. The combination with an automobile body provided with atop and hinged doors, a sliding-sash carried by the top and cooperating with one of the hinged doors to form an enclosure for the top when the hinged door is closed and the sash is posiitioned thereover, means to mount the slid- Ling sash so that when the same is in closed position over the door it forms a tight joint with the door, and when the sash is retracted ittis immediately moved out of contact with the top of the door atthe moment .of re traction, and a fixed sash guard on the auto body and rearward of the hinged door forming a track section to engage the adjacent end of the sliding sash when the latter is closed.

16. The combination with an auto body having atop and a hinged door, a trackway arranged in the top, and a sliding, sash trav- -ersing the track, the lower edge of the bot- ;tom sash rail and the top edge of the door being provided with means to form a closed noiseless joint when the parts are in closed I position, said track provided with a deflection at or adjacent to the limit of movement of the sash to bring about a clamping and locking action of the sash with the door.

17; The combination with an automobile body having front and rear hinged doors, and a top having a side window back of the rear, door and independent overhead tracks above the level of said window and respectively extending forwardly to points above the doors, of horizontally sliding windows mounted on the respective tracks to move :past 'eachother in opening or closing independently of the door, and means for per-' mitting the windows to move downwardly into engagement with the top of the doors to form a tight joint therewith when closed.

18. The combination with an auto body and a stationary top, a stationary rear window horizontally extending overhead tracks .in the top', a pair of sashes slidable on said respective tracks, said sashes adapted for extension one beyond the other to enclose a side of the car and retractable to lie alongside the stationary window, front and rear hinged'doors with which the sashes respectivelyco-operate, said sashed doors and CV81- head tracks so constructed and arranged that the forward sash may traverse the rear sashes are automatically pressed against said yielding packing to form a rattle-proof joint.

19. The combination with the top of an automobile having open sides, of windo supporting means mounted upon opposite sides of the top, windows slidable upon such means and having their lower edges disposed to be moved into and out of engagement with the body of the automobile, and means for raising and lowering and pressing the lower edges of said windows into engage ment with the upper edges of the body of the automobile.

20. The combination with an automobile body and top having open sides, of rigid windows movable edgewise horizontally into position to close the sides and vertically into and out of engagement with the upper edges of the body, and tracks mounted upon opposite sides of the top and disposed and arranged to guide and support the windows during both their horizontal and vertical movements.

21. The combination with a vehicle body having front and rear seats or compartments, of a top for said body, open at its sides except for a stationary sash at each side of the rear compartment, a plurality of substantially horizontal tracks concealed in the roof of the'top at either side thereof, a sash slidably mounted on each of said tracks and overlying the top rail of the body, said sashes when extended co-operating with each other and the top rail of the body to effect a complete closure for the sides of both compartments, and being retractable into position to register with the stationary sash at the rear so as to leave said compartments completely open at their sides, and means for imparting vertical movement to said windows sufficient to avoid friction between the bottom of said windows and the top rail of the body during sliding movement and suflicient to effect substantial closure between the bottoms of said windows and the body when the said windows are at having front and rear seats or compartments, a top for said body, open at its sides except for a stationary sash at each side of the rear compartment, a pair of substantially horizontal tracks concealed in the top at either side thereof, a sash slidably mounted on each of said tracks and overlying the top rail of the body, and vertically spaced from said top rail to permit free sliding movement of the sash, said-sashes being independently movable, and adapted to be retracted into position to register with the stationary sash at the rear, so as to leave the. said compartments completely open at their sides, and adapted to be extended so as to form a complete closure for said compare ments extending from said rear stationary sash to the front of the vehicle body, and means for automatically effecting substantial closure between the bottom of each sash and said top mil, when said sashes are in extended position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing vvltnesses.

FRANK D. GOULD.

Witnesses: I

W. W. HEALEY, J OHN H. I'IERRING. 

